Paul O’Connell meets our Limerick grantees
On Friday 29 September 2017, Paul O’Connell, former Ireland Lyons rugby legend, met with our grantees and partners in Limerick and was interested to learn more about the work they are doing.
We were a lively bunch numbering over 40 and ranging in ages from 2 upwards so the management and staff at Northern Trust who hosted us at their lovely, modern offices at City East Plaza, Towlerton, Ballysimon had their work cut out. However Catherine Duffy, head of the Limerick office, and her team rose magnificently to the occasion and were very welcoming to us, with the teddies, books and toys they provided for the children proving extremely popular.
With us were representatives from each of our Limerick based programmes:-
- Early Learning Initiative of the National College of Ireland;
- the Incredible Years and Mentoring for Achievement programmes of Archways; and
- the Student Mentoring Programme of Business in the Community.
Also with us were their partners in Limerick, Paul Partnership, ABC Better Start, Garryowen CDP and BITC mentors from Limerick IT as well as pupils and staff from Courtenay Boys School – Newcastle West, Thomond College Sexton Street CBS and Presentation Girls.
Paul McNaughton, Eimear Cowhey and Fiona Mulcahy from basis.point were also present and enjoyed meeting with our new partners and hearing from them as they explained the challenges faced and benefits of their programmes.